The prices may have been hiked a bit, but the feel at Revolution Nightclub is that of its predecessor, Southern Nights. It was those cheap Southern Nights drink prices that drew my friends -- predominantly straight -- to this predominantly gay bar years back. And it was a relaxed vibe and those fantastic drag shows that kept us coming back. That is until the club, and its clientele, started having problems with the law. The club ended up closing, only to be remodeled and reopened under the same name.

An extreme makeover of Interstate 4. The missing link in Orlando's beltway. A first-ever commuter rail system for the area. A high-speed passenger train from South to Central Florida. These projects, together worth billions of dollars, are in the works or already underway. They make up what the Orlando Sentinel is calling Central Florida's transportation revolution. They'll transform how people who live here get around, how tourists get here, and how business gets done. As part of our continuing "Florida Forward" series of forums on issues critical to our region, the Sentinel convened a discussion Tuesday on what's ahead for transportation in Central Florida.

"Revolution" rejoins the schedule Monday, and NBC has announced that its hit freshman drama will complete its season May 27, which is Memorial Day. "The Voice" also returns Monday, and it will name another winner June 18. More drama season finales: "Chicago Fire" on May 15, "Grimm" on May 17 and "Law & Order: SVU" with two hours on May 22. They all conclude before the 2012-13 TV season officially ends May 22. But NBC's scheduling demonstrates news...

This week, I saw for the first time a desktop 3D printer, the machine that President Barack Obama recently said will "revolutionize the way we make almost everything," and that experts say could change the world as much as the steam engine did in the 19th century, or the Internet at the end of the 20th century. A Miami distributor showed me the new technology - actually, it was invented nearly three decades ago, but it has only taken off now - and explained to me how it works. His machine was not bigger than a desktop computer, and looked like a cross between a home sewing machine and a dentists' drill.

Many TV fans are flocking to Orlando to MegaCon to celebrate " Star Trek: The Next Generation. " I saluted that series, one of my favorites, in Friday's paper. The best TV series earn your loyalty. It doesn't matter if it's "The Walking Dead" or "The Good Wife," "Homeland" or "The Big Bang Theory. " They keep drawing you back with their innovative storytelling, their well-defined characters and their appealing actors. Will "Revolution," one of the fall's big new hits, bring back the fans when it returns at 10 p.m. March 25 on NBC?

Iran should export its 1979 Islamic Revolution to other countries by words, not by sending out armies. That's what spiritual leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini is telling Iranian diplomats. The national news agency IRNA reported he told a group of diplomats in Arab and African countries Saturday: ''We have said from the start that we want to export our revolution. Exporting a revolution is not done by dispatching armies. Rather, we want to get our words across to the world. We do not want to live in a country that is isolated from the world.

IT IS extremely irritating to me that the all-powerful, all-knowing, it's-for-your-own-good Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation is picking on mom-and-pop, Cuban-style, open-air restaurants in Miami and want to overregulate these open-air cafe restaurants that have never poisoned or killed any of their customers.I worked for city and federal government most of my life and have seen firsthand how these bureaucratic dunderheads work. These restaurant owners must work every day and meet a payroll.

SANTIAGO, CUBA -- President RaM-zl Castro returned to his native eastern Cuba on Saturday to mark the day 55 years ago that he and his brother Fidel led a ragtag band of rebels in an audacious armed attack that launched a revolution. Official media said RaM-zl Castro would address the nation live on state television and radio from Santiago's Moncada barracks to mark this year's Revolution Day. Since taking office five months ago, he has opened more unused state land to private farmers, legalized cell phones for ordinary citizens and allowed some workers to seek title to their homes.

HAVANA -- President Fidel Castro said in an interview published Thursday that he isn't worried about Cuba's transition after he dies, because the socialist revolution will continue even without him since he is just a "common man." "In Cuba, there is no personality cult," Castro said in an interview with the official daily Granma. "When a true revolution has been consolidated, and the spread of its ideas and consciousness has begun to bear fruit, no one -- no matter how important his personal contribution -- is indispensable," he said.

LONDON -- Former Iraqi military officers and civilian opposition groups seeking a role in a future democratic Iraq gathered Friday to discuss efforts to topple Saddam Hussein. More than 200 people attended the open meeting at a convention hall to discuss how to overthrow Saddam's regime in Baghdad and secure democracy, organizers said. The meetings were to last through the weekend.

As CJ Johnson and his team of "Muddy Medics" gathered near the starting line of the Superhero Scramble obstacle-course run, race champion Hunter McIntyre was crossing the finish line, where he pumped his fists, threw his head back and slammed down a Coors Light. About 2,200 people, ranging from beginners to professional athletes, powered through the intense course Saturday morning in waves of about 50 people every half-hour at Revolution Off Road adventure park south of Clermont.

Goggles on, boys and girls. The test kitchen food processor is wobbling like a Tilt-A-Whirl at the county fair. Before the tidbits go wild, let's dish: Think before you eat . Friday's Food Revolution Day is part of celebrity chef Jamie Oliver's initiative to raise awareness for better food education and cooking skills across the world. Events are planned in Winter Park on Friday and in Cocoa on Saturday. Winter Park High School will host student activities such as planting grow boxes, demonstrating 10 simple recipes that novice cooks could make at home and conducting a blind taste test of fruit and vegetables.

"Revolution" rejoins the schedule Monday, and NBC has announced that its hit freshman drama will complete its season May 27, which is Memorial Day. "The Voice" also returns Monday, and it will name another winner June 18. More drama season finales: "Chicago Fire" on May 15, "Grimm" on May 17 and "Law & Order: SVU" with two hours on May 22. They all conclude before the 2012-13 TV season officially ends May 22. But NBC's scheduling demonstrates news...

Many TV fans are flocking to Orlando to MegaCon to celebrate " Star Trek: The Next Generation. " I saluted that series, one of my favorites, in Friday's paper. The best TV series earn your loyalty. It doesn't matter if it's "The Walking Dead" or "The Good Wife," "Homeland" or "The Big Bang Theory. " They keep drawing you back with their innovative storytelling, their well-defined characters and their appealing actors. Will "Revolution," one of the fall's big new hits, bring back the fans when it returns at 10 p.m. March 25 on NBC?

Television is the best book-selling machine in the world. Who can forget Oprah Winfrey's contributions to publishing? Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush hits a TV jackpot Sunday morning: He will go on five shows to promote his book "Immigration Wars" and himself, of course. Later Sunday, Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer of Facebook, will appear on "60 Minutes. " She can promote her book, "Lean In," and her ideas at 7 p.m. Sunday on CBS (locally on WKMG-Channel 6. In reviewing the book, Janet Maslin of The New York Times predicted that "Lean In" would be influential, said it would encourage women in the workplace and compared it to Betty Friedan's "The Feminine Mystique.

There's no "Castle" tonight as ABC reworks its Monday schedule. "Dancing With the Stars" delivers a one-hour episode in which the three finalists each perform two dances with their partners. The show, at 8 on ABC, lets finalists Kelly Monaco , Shawn Johnson and Melissa Rycroft reprise their favorite dance this season. They also put everything into the freestyle, which can decide the winner. The victor will be named in a two-hour season finale that starts at 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Who knew? The initials of alt-pop band O.A.R.'s name stand for "Of a Revolution." Just tuck that trivia tidbit away in case it comes up on Jeopardy! The band was formed while Marc Roberge, Jerry DePizzo, Richard On, Chris Culos and Benj Gershman were attending Ohio State. After building a word-of-mouth following on the indie circuit, they signed with a major label and released In Between Now and Then in May. O.A.R. will be at the House of Blues with Matt Nathanson Feb. 22; doors open at 5:30 p.m., and tickets go on sale Saturday for $19. For more information, call 407-934-2583.

When Mao Zedong, the first Chinese paramount leader of the communist period, spoke, people trembled. When Mao's successor, Deng Xiaoping, spoke, people bowed and complied. When Deng's successor, Jiang Zemin, spoke, people paused and paid close attention. And when Jiang's successor, Hu Jintao -- who will visit the United States this week -- speaks, people listen and increasingly decide for themselves. That evolution in the perception of and response to Chinese leaders illustrates the incredible changes that modern revolutions have brought to China -- and hints of more to come.

NBC has unveiled its plans for midseason, including the start date for the next cycle of "The Voice. " The Peacock Network decided to do two editions of the popular singing contest this season. Once the fall show ends, "The Voice" will take a break until March 25. "Revolution," the new hit drama about a world without electricity, will offer new episodes in November. Then the show also will be off the air until March 25. NBC announced the addition of three series at midseason: "Ready for Love," a reality series from "Desperate Housewives" star Eva Longoria ; "Deception," a murder mystery about a family; and "1600 Penn," a comedy about a president's wacky family.

Mark Pellegrino , Todd Stashwick and Colin Ford are all familiar faces to fans of "Supernatural," and now they're all booked as guest stars on former "Supernatural" executive producer Eric Kripke's new NBC series "Revolution. " Pellegrino (or Lucifer to "Supernatural" fans) is expected to appear on "Revolution" first, in the role of a militia officer in episode 3 entitled "No Quarter" and scheduled to air Oct. 1. Ford (a.k.a. young Sam Winchester) plays the brother of a boy kidnapped by the militia in episode 7, while Stashwick (who was Dracula in the "Supernatural" Season 4 episode "Monster Movie")